Upstate, SC [March 25, 2015] – Ten at the Top (TATT) will focus the first Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2015 on the topic of Transportation and Infrastructure. The April 9th forum will feature former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to discuss how and why it is crucial for regions across the country to overcome the failure to act when it comes to investing in transportation and infrastructure.

After 34 years of public service, including 24 as an elected official, Governor Rendell continues to pursue many of the same issues he was passionate about while serving as Mayor of the City of Philadelphia (1992-2000) and Governor of the State of Pennsylvania (2003-2011). His commitment to making America a cleaner, more efficient place and to fostering investment in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure remains strong. Among his current endeavors, Governor Rendell serves along with former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger as co-chairs of Building America’s Future, a bipartisan coalition of elected officials dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation’s prosperity and quality of life.

The program will also include Greg DiLoreto, former chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who will share some examples of communities across the country who are working collaboratively to address their transportation challenges. In addition, Keith Scott from Electric City Transit and Mark Rickards from Greenlink will provide a local view on transit opportunities and challenges here in the Upstate.

This is the first of the Ten at the Top/Our Upstate Vision Forums for 2015 and also is serving as the kickoff of a four-part Shaping Our Future Series that is being coordinated through a partnership that includes Upstate Forever, the Upstate SC Alliance, the Riley Institute at Furman University, the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, Ten at the Top and other organizations, serving as partners for specific programs within the series, to look at issues impacting current and future growth in the Upstate.

The forum, which is open to the public, is being held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9th at The Greenville Marriott (1 Parkway East, Greenville, SC 29615) with a networking reception to immediately follow the forum. The cost to attend is $10 and advance registration is required. Register at www.tenatthetop.org Registration deadline is April 7th. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.

About Ten at the Top
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.

Upstate, SC [March 9, 2015] – On March 20th, city, county, and state elected leaders from within the 10-county Upstate will assemble for the first Upstate Elected Officials meeting of 2015, to be held from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the BMW Zentrum (1400 S. Highway 101, Greer SC 29651).

Started in 2010 through a partnership with the Appalachian Council of Governments, Catawba Regional Council of Governments, Upper Savannah Regional Council of Governments, Ten at the Top, Upstate Forever, and the Upstate SC Alliance, this will be the __#__ meeting designed to provide elected officials and business leaders from across the Upstate with a forum to gather to discuss key issues impacting the region.

The focus for this session will be how potential transportation legislation will impact local communities. In addition, panelists including Tommy Stringer from the SC House District 18, Brian White from SC House District 6, and Woodrow Willard Jr., the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commissioner, 4th Congressional District, will be discussing the possible impacts on local communities of the Upstate and across South Carolina based on the proposals that have been presented to fund needed transportation and infrastructure maintenance and improvements.

About Ten at the Top
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.